Characteristics:
Skating:
A good skater with good top speed and acceleration. He is a fast player and plays accordingly. Good agility and ability of changing direction. He has a decent size, but can work on his balance when challenged. Due to his skating, but not only, he is the kind of player who is dangerous when the game opens up. Grade: 55

Shooting:
Somehow he has a fast release, but is not a great shooter. He has to work on his power and frequency of use, although he is more of a passer. While he has a nose for the net, he is not a player who will score a huge amount of goals in pro hockey. Grade: 45

Puck skills:
An area where Shvyrev excels, he can play the puck in any zone and bring it up to the play at high speed. Like many Russian players, Shvyrev has excellent technique, with stickhandling and puck control all well above the average. He is comfortable with the puck on his blade, when he can make things happen with his diverse offensive arsenal. Grade: 55

Smarts:
Shvyrev is an intelligent player in the offensive zone, where he can find the free player with ease, or even try to finish himself when closer to the net. However, his game is a bit less mature than other draft-eligible players and at this point he may even be a defensive liability, also considering his lack of experience on the pro stage. He also has to work on the dots. Grade: 50

Physicality:
Shvyrev has decent size, not big, but not small either. He can take a hit and doesn’t disappear when things get tougher. Not a physical player, but he is not a soft forward either. Of course, as with many European players, he can and has to work on this department. Grade: 45

General Assessment:
An offensive center with decent size and smooth hands, Shvyrev is as good as any third rounder. He’s still a long shot for the NHL, but has all the necessary raw materials.Overall Future Projection: 50.75

Athleticism
A fast goalie with good legs game and good stamina too. He is not used to play too many games because of the less game-intensive schedule of European leagues, therefore he may need some adjustment for that.
Grade: 45

Quickness/Speed
Of course it’s on the high level. Good legs, fast movements side-to-side, and good recovery times. He can often make the second save. Grade: 50

Compete/Temperament
Did not show signs of mental lack, but he was outplayed by Vladimir Sukhachyov later in the season, who got all the playoff games for Team Russia U18 in the MHL. Doesn’t seem to be a weakness at all, but maybe more sampling is needed, although he showed that he can play great on the international scene. He can take forwards one on one. Grade: 50

Vision/Play reading
Good at tracking the puck, although once again in European hockey goalies have less traffic in front of the crease. Game reading is above the average, but may need some coaching. Grade: 50

Technique/Style
As with many Russian young goalies, he is more of an instinct goalie, who plays a hybrid style. He plays well on the angles and covers the bottom part of the net as well. Should work on his overall technique, positioning, and net coverage. Grade: 45

Rebound control
Works more to stop the puck, rather than deflect it, and his rebound control isn’t the greatest, but he is fast with his arms to cover the puck. This is another area that he needs to work on. Grade: 45

Puck handling
In the more usual European way, as a goalie he rarely gets out of the crease, preferring to leave the puck to his skaters. He can play the puck, but needs to gain confidence in doing it. Grade: 40

General assessment:
A goalie with good raw technique, Berdin has a long way in front of him, although he has some interesting potential. He is good enough to be considered an NHL goalie in the making, but he needs to work, and to work hard. He also needs to bulk up.Overall Future Projection: 47

Skating:
Not the fastest skater out there, Andrei Svetlakov still has a good stride with above average acceleration and good agility. Overall, a solid skater with good balance, also thanks to his good size. Grade: 55

Shooting:
A good finisher, Svetlakov has a good touch around the net and a fast shot from close distance. He doesn’t shoot a lot, but he can still score with the occasional deflection or a chance from close range. Can improve his shot. Grade: 50

Skills:
A player gifted with good technique, Svetlakov has a good set of hands joined with some good hockey sense that make him a dangerous player in the offensive zone. He can set up his line mates with a crisp pass, not only searching for the obvious solution. He can bring the puck forward as well. Grade: 55

Smarts:
Svetlakov is one of those players who coaches love to have because he is intelligent, versatile, and never gives up. He can be a useful option for his team in both power play and penalty killing, and often wears letters on his jersey for his teams. He is an appealing player thanks to his mental qualities. Grade: 55

Physicality:
A player with decent size, Svetlakov isn’t a grinder, but can be a presence on the rink and isn’t afraid of physical contact. He tries to play bigger than what he is and has a certain degree of success. Grade: 50

General assessment:
Considering his skills and mental side, it’s hard to understand why he’s still available for the draft, and it’s likely that he will be drafted this year, also considering his play at the WJC and in the KHL. Svetlakov has all the tools to play in the NHL in a top-six role in the future.Overall Future Projection: 53.5

Characteristics:
Skating:
Due to his size he is not very mobile, nor is he very agile. A decent skater, but one who needs to work on both his feet and legs. Grade: 40

Shooting:
Sosunov can release a good shot from the point, although it’s not a lethal weapon as it may be. He needs to work on his release and accuracy, and probably he also needs to shoot a little bit more. Grade: 40

Puck skills:
Sosunov doesn’t have big offensive skills as he is more of a defensive defenseman. He tends to play simple, and does not make many mistakes. He can move the puck in the offensive zone and shoot, although he has to work on his offensive upside if he wants to become an appealing prospect on both sides of the Ocean. Grade: 35

Smarts:
Sosunov displayed some good defensive skills, not only sheer size. He can cover pass lines, try to poke check the opposition, and challenge players on the boards. He doesn’t take many penalties, his total PIMs count may be inflated as European referees are somewhat stricter. Grade: 40

Physicality:
He has great size and while he isn’t an overly aggressive player, he is a good presence in the defensive zone. He never plays in an adventurous way, and doesn’t take unneeded penalties. He can gain some further strength in both the upper and lower part of his body, but of course he has an NHL body. Grade: 55

General Assessment:
While he needs to work on pretty much everything, his size alone makes him an interesting prospect for NHL teams. He has a lot of raw potential, and some good coaching can turn him into a promising defensive defenseman at pro level.Overall Future Projection: 41.5

Characteristics:
Skating:
A decent skater with good mobility in the defensive zone. Not a speedster, but isn’t likely to get overrun by forwards. He has good agility and keeps his feet moving while defending. Karpukhin has good mobility and isn’t easy to knock off the puck because of his good size Grade: 45

Shooting:
Not the best shooter, he has a decent slapshot with some accuracy, but needs to work on it. Doesn’t shoot often, but can get the puck in the back of the net with some offensive rushes. Can improve his offensive ceiling. Grade: 45

Puck skills:
Karpukhin showed some flashes of offensive skills, although he is sometimes somewhat scared to use them. A solid puckhandler in his own zone, he likes to keep it simple and hardly attempts very creative plays, which left people a little bit wondering why he doesn’t try more. A good passer with sound vision of the ice, he rarely loses the puck. Can improve in this department and try more. Grade: 45

Smarts:
Very good in the defensive zone, Karpukhin has good defensive potential. He plays aggressively, trying to use his size at his advantage, without getting caught off guard or getting unneeded penalties. A solid defensive player in his own zone, he can only improve in the future and is already a very good prospect as a defensive defenseman. Grade: 55

Physicality:
Not the biggest player on ice, he has good size anyway and knows how to use it. He can deliver good bodychecks and is useful in killing penalties because of his solid positioning play. He is rather aggressive and is a good presence in his own zone. Grade: 50

General Assessment:
Karpukhin is a very interesting prospect with good defensive play and good hands as well. He also has a good hockey IQ that classifies him as a legit NHL prospect.Overall Future Projection: 48.75

Characteristics:
Skating:
A very good skater with above average agility and good coordination. Has also a good top speed, and can maneuver with the puck thanks to his good legs. He is the kind of player who can make things happen with a quick burst, and is even better on the off wing. Grade: 55

Shooting:
A solid wrist and snap shot, but he’s a pass-first player. He can shoot out of nothing trying to surprise the goalie, but prefers to pass the puck. He owns a good shot, but should use it more often. Grade: 50

Puck skills:
Yurtaikin has a good pair of hands that makes him a constant threat in the offensive zone. He can bring the puck forward and likes to search for the free man closer to the net. He can also take defensemen one on one and creating chances this way. A solid puck handler who can be a treat in any situation. Grade: 55

Smarts:
Just as many Russian offensive prospects he isn’t a solid presence in his own zone. Although, this trait often gets coached with some success once the player turns pro, therefore it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. On a positive note, he doesn’t get many PIMs, but he doesn’t play physically. Grade: 40

Physicality:
Yurtaikin isn’t small, but he doesn’t play physically and sometimes he prefers to play on the perimeter. He’s still young therefore he has time to bulk up and improve his physical play. Grade: 40

General Assessment:
Yurtaikin is an exciting offensive player who can make things happen out of nothing thanks to his great hands and very good skating abilities. He needs to work on the defensive side of the game while bulking up to become more of a threat and more valuable for North American teams.Overall Future Projection: 50